Getting a Nepal visa is one of the more straightforward processes in South Asian travel — and one of the more misunderstood. Most travelers assume they need to visit an embassy weeks in advance, fill out complicated forms, and wait. In reality, the majority of nationalities can sort the whole thing out in forty minutes at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, or in about fifteen minutes online before they leave home. But there are enough details — fees that changed quietly, border procedures that vary by crossing, extension rules that trip up long-term trekkers — that a proper walkthrough is worth having before you go.
Who Needs a Nepal Visa?
Almost everyone needs a visa to enter Nepal, but there are meaningful exceptions. Indian nationals do not require a visa at all — they can enter Nepal freely with a valid Indian passport or even certain government-issued photo ID cards, and there is no fee or time limit on their stay.
Citizens of SAARC member states — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — receive a complimentary visa. That means no visa fee, though they still go through the standard entry process and receive a stamp. The duration of stay for SAARC nationals is typically 30 days per entry, extendable at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu.
Chinese nationals are eligible for visa on arrival at Tribhuvan Airport and at designated land border crossings, though the specific crossings open to Chinese passport holders have changed periodically — worth confirming current policy at the nearest Nepal embassy before traveling overland.
Citizens of most other countries — the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, and the vast majority of other nations — are eligible for visa on arrival or the online visa system. A small number of nationalities are restricted or require advance embassy approval: citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and a handful of other countries have historically faced additional scrutiny or been required to obtain visas from a Nepal embassy before arrival. If your passport is from a country not commonly listed in online travel guides, check with the nearest Nepal embassy or consulate directly.
Nepal Visa Fees and Duration Options
As of 2024–2025, Nepal offers tourist visas in three standard durations at the following fees:
- 15 days — $30 USD
- 30 days — $50 USD
- 90 days — $125 USD
These fees apply per entry and are paid in US dollars (cash preferred at the airport counters, though credit card machines have been available at TIA for several years). Other major currencies are sometimes accepted at the airport at the day’s exchange rate, but USD is the safest choice. Payment in Nepali rupees is not accepted for visa purchase at the airport.
Nepal uses a calendar-year system for visa duration. You are permitted a maximum of 150 days in Nepal within any single calendar year on a tourist visa. So if you enter in October on a 90-day visa, stay through December, return in January, and take another 90-day visa, you’re starting a fresh year and have no issue. However, if you try to combine multiple visas within the same calendar year and exceed 150 days total, immigration will flag it.
The 30-day visa is the right choice for most trekkers. The standard Everest Base Camp trek runs 14–16 days; the Annapurna Circuit takes 12–20 days depending on pace and route. Add a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara and you’ve got a natural 25–30 day trip. Trekkers doing multiple routes back-to-back, or combining trekking with a long stay in Pokhara or the Terai, typically find the 90-day option worth the extra $75.
Applying for a Nepal Visa Online
Nepal’s Department of Immigration runs an online visa application portal at online.nepalimmigration.gov.np. This system lets you fill out the application form, upload a passport photo, and pay the visa fee online before you travel. The system generates a reference number that you present at the airport immigration desk on arrival, where your passport is stamped.
The online process takes 10–20 minutes to complete. You’ll need a digital passport photo (white background, standard dimensions), a scanned copy of your passport bio page, and a credit or debit card for payment. The fee is the same as on arrival.
Is it worth doing online? Honestly, it depends on when you’re arriving. If you land at Tribhuvan Airport on a mid-afternoon international flight — the peak window is roughly 2 PM to 6 PM, when multiple Qatar Airways, Emirates, and IndiGo flights arrive within the same hour — the visa-on-arrival queues can stretch to 45 minutes or more. Having your online visa reference number lets you skip directly to the immigration counters and cuts that wait significantly. If you’re arriving on a late-night flight, the queues are usually short regardless, and on-arrival works fine.
Visa on Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport
What to Have Ready Before You Land
Tribhuvan International Airport (IATA code: KTM) is Kathmandu’s only international airport, sitting about 6 kilometers east of Thamel. All international arrivals go through the same immigration hall. Before you join the visa queue, you’ll need:
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date
- One passport-size photograph (4cm x 3cm, white background) — if you don’t have one, there’s a photo booth near the visa counters for NPR 200–300
- Cash in USD (or another major currency) for the visa fee, or a credit card
- A completed arrival card (handed out on the plane or available on stands in the terminal)
Step-by-Step Through TIA Arrivals
The process at TIA is more organized than first-time visitors expect, though the terminal itself is showing its age. Here’s how it actually goes:
Step 1: Arrival hall. After deplaning and walking through the terminal, you reach the immigration hall. You’ll see separate queues for online visa holders, visa on arrival, and Nepali citizens/diplomatic passports. Choose the visa on arrival lane unless you applied online.
Step 2: Fill out the form. Kiosks with touch screens allow you to fill out the visa application digitally. There are also paper forms if the machines are busy. You’ll enter your name, passport details, address in Nepal (name of your hotel or guesthouse is fine), purpose of visit, and duration. The system prints a slip.
Step 3: Pay. Take your printed slip to the payment counter. Pay the fee in USD cash or by card. You’ll receive a receipt.
Step 4: Immigration stamp. Present your passport, receipt, and photograph to the immigration officer. They’ll affix the visa sticker and stamp it. The whole exchange takes about two minutes once you’re at the window.
Step 5: Baggage claim and exit. Baggage carousels are just past immigration. The customs declaration is a simple form for most travelers carrying standard tourist gear. Exit through the arrival gates into the chaos of taxi touts and tour operator signs — prepaid taxi counters are inside the terminal to the left if you want a fixed price rather than negotiating.
Total time for visa on arrival on a quiet day: 20–25 minutes. On a busy afternoon: 45–60 minutes. This is worth factoring into airport pickup arrangements if someone is meeting you.
Land Border Crossings into Nepal
Nepal shares land borders with India to the south and China to the north. The northern crossings with China are generally not available to third-country nationals on tourist visas due to Chinese visa regulations — the Tatopani/Zhangmu crossing (which was heavily damaged in the 2015 earthquake) has had limited and variable access since then. For the vast majority of travelers coming overland, the relevant crossings are with India.
Sunauli / Belahiya (Uttar Pradesh, India)
This is the busiest tourist crossing, most commonly used by travelers coming from Varanasi or Agra. The Indian town of Sunauli is connected to the Nepali town of Belahiya by a short walk across the border. A Nepal immigration office operates at Belahiya, and visa on arrival is available here during daytime hours (roughly 7 AM to 7 PM, though hours can vary and it’s wise to cross before 5 PM to avoid complications). The walk between the Indian and Nepali immigration posts takes about 15–20 minutes including formalities. From Belahiya, buses and taxis connect to Pokhara (7–8 hours) and Kathmandu (9–10 hours by bus, or there are flights from Bhairahawa airport, 7km away).
Birgunj / Raxaul (Bihar, India)
The Birgunj crossing at Raxaul is the highest-volume freight and commercial crossing on the Nepal-India border, but it also handles tourist traffic. It connects Nepal’s industrial corridor south of Kathmandu with Bihar’s rail junction at Raxaul. It’s less commonly used by tourists than Sunauli because the onward journey to Kathmandu by road (5–6 hours) passes through less scenic territory. Visa on arrival is available at the Nepal immigration post here. This crossing tends to be busy with truck traffic; budget extra time for queues.
Kakarbhitta / Panitanki (West Bengal, India)
The eastern crossing at Kakarbhitta is the entry point for travelers coming from Darjeeling, Siliguri, or the Northeast Indian states. It connects to Panitanki on the Indian side. This crossing is frequently used by trekkers heading to Ilam and the eastern hill districts, or those beginning an overland journey across Nepal from east to west. Visa on arrival is available. From Kakarbhitta, buses run to Biratnagar (45 minutes) and onward to Kathmandu (12–16 hours) or you can fly from Biratnagar airport.
Mahendranagar / Banbasa (Uttarakhand, India)
The westernmost crossing, at Mahendranagar opposite the Indian town of Banbasa, serves travelers coming from Dehradun or those doing a western Nepal circuit taking in Bardia National Park and Khaptad. Less visited than the other crossings, the immigration office is functional and visa on arrival is available. The road to Kathmandu from the far west is long — 16–20 hours by bus. Nepalganj (5–6 hours east) has a domestic airport with regular flights to Kathmandu.
Extending Your Nepal Visa
If your original visa is running short, you can extend it at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu (located in Kalikasthan, Dillibazar — a 15-minute taxi ride from Thamel) or at the Immigration Office in Pokhara (near the Prithvi Narayan Campus on Prithvi Chowk). Extensions at other district immigration offices are also possible but less commonly used by tourists.
The extension fee is $3 USD per day, with a minimum extension of 15 days ($45 minimum). You can extend up to your maximum permitted days within the calendar year. Bring your passport, one passport photo, a photocopy of your passport bio page and current visa, and the fee in cash. Processing is same-day in most cases; arrive before noon to collect the same afternoon. The Kathmandu office opens at 10 AM and closes at 5 PM Sunday through Friday (Nepal’s work week runs Sunday to Friday).
Overstaying your visa is handled at the airport on departure. The fine is $3 USD per day of overstay. It’s not worth the stress or the queue — an extension is straightforward and the office staff are generally efficient.
SAARC Countries and Free Visas
Nepal has historically used visa policy as a tool of regional diplomacy. The free visa for SAARC members reflects Nepal’s position within the South Asian regional bloc, and the practical effect is significant: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Maldivian, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan citizens pay nothing at the immigration counter. They still receive a visa stamp and are subject to the same 150-days-per-calendar-year maximum as other nationals, but the fee is waived entirely. This makes Nepal an affordable destination for regional travel in a way that’s genuinely notable.
Indians, as mentioned, don’t need a visa at all — which reflects the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two countries, a unique bilateral arrangement that allows free movement of people across the open border. Indian citizens can enter Nepal through any official border crossing without a visa or entry stamp, though some internal trekking permits (TIMS cards, national park entry fees) still apply equally to all foreign nationals including Indians.
Things That Catch Travelers Off Guard
A few visa-related issues come up again and again that are worth flagging:
Passport photo. The photo booth at TIA is there for a reason — but it costs more time than bringing your own. Get a couple of 4x3cm photos printed before you travel and keep them with your travel documents. Most guesthouses in Thamel can also print photos quickly if you forgot.
Cash at the border. Land border crossings may not have reliable card machines. Bring USD cash to any overland crossing. The Birgunj and Sunauli crossings have had card payment options but availability is inconsistent, and the machines go down. USD $50 in your wallet before crossing the border is cheap insurance.
Six-month passport validity. Nepal immigration will turn you away at the visa counter if your passport expires within six months of your intended departure date. Check this before you pack.
The calendar year limit. If you’re combining Nepal with a back-to-India trip and planning to return, do the math on your total days in Nepal within the same calendar year. This catches long-term travelers who do a circuit of South Asia and assume they can simply buy a new 30-day visa on their second Nepal visit without checking their first-visit dates.
Trekking permits are not the same as your visa. A TIMS card (Trekkers’ Information Management System) and national park entry fees are separate from your Nepal visa and are purchased at the relevant offices in Kathmandu or at the trailhead. Your visa does not grant access to restricted areas — Upper Mustang, Manaslu, Dolpo, and other restricted zones require additional permits costing $500–1,000+ beyond the standard visa.
A Note from Nepal Trail Guide
Visa logistics are the kind of thing that shouldn’t take up much mental space before a Nepal trip — and for most travelers, they won’t. The system is genuinely accessible, the fees are reasonable, and the immigration staff at Tribhuvan Airport process thousands of arrivals a day with reasonable efficiency. We’ve put this guide together because the details that matter — which border crossings have visa facilities, what the calendar-year limit actually means, where to go in Kathmandu for an extension — are often scattered across outdated forum posts and embassy pages that don’t get updated regularly.
If you have a question this guide doesn’t answer, or if something has changed since we last updated it, leave a comment or get in touch. Nepal’s immigration rules shift occasionally — fee changes, new online systems, adjusted crossing hours — and we try to reflect current conditions rather than publish once and walk away.